Merry-Go-Round
Let it sink in before we begin. A 60 year career. The Zombies are one of only a few bands who started in the swinging sixties and are still rocking to this day, thanks to two of their founding members, keyboardist, vocalist and songwriter Rod Argent and lead singer, Colin Blunstone (we were lucky enough to speak to Colin last week and you can listen to our full interview with him below.)
Hot on the heels of their latest LP, A Different Game, and a positive SXSW premiere for their documentary Hung Up On A Dream, the band returned to their home county of Hertfordshire for two sold-out shows at the Eric Morecambe Centre in Harpenden as part of their Life Is A Merry-Go-Round tour.
Close to home as it is, the show’s atmosphere feels like one The Zombies create wherever they go. Warm and humble, the dulcet spoken voices of Rod and Colin greet the audience as old friends. Anecdotal tales are peppered with care between their hits, old and new. Even in their seats, the crowd seem to feel the rising tide as the blues-infused groove of Moving On fills the auditorium. Rod Argent’s righteous keys unlock doors through decades past and present with ease. Cymbals clash and calm from drummer Steve Rodford as his drums of the living dead get feet tapping and hands clapping.
The night’s highlight is a trilogy of tracks from 1968’s Odessey and Oracle. The touch of melancholy in Colin’s voice towards the end of This Will Be Our Year hints at the band’s bittersweet history. Before it lingers, Rod’s beautiful piano melody brings a radiant smile to Colin’s face as the song finishes, welcoming sounds of cheers and applause from the captivated audience. Timeless doesn’t even begin to encompass these compositions and the rapturous reception they receive live.
While I was preparing to take photos for the show, I spoke to two women who had both travelled all the way from America to be there. Even after all these years, The Zombies still satiate with splendour for their faithful fans across generations, oceans and beyond.
